Chapter 1255 405: Biological Alchemy

The attitude of the shopkeeper, the old craftsman, was very devout.

It was understandable.

After all, most wizards can only look up to someone like Ian, a legendary wizard. How to describe the status of a legendary wizard in the wizarding world? It's much like a frog at the bottom of a well seeing the moon in the sky without learning magic.

A wizard who has learned magic seeing a legend is akin to a mayfly seeing the vast sky. Hence, upon hearing that Ian was interested in spellcasting techniques, the old craftsman even felt this was his opportunity.

He paused, seeming to fear Ian would find the topic dull, and cautiously added a suggestion, his eyes full of expectation: "Soon, a young child from the tribe will come here for wandless spellcasting crafting and learning."

"Perhaps... perhaps, Your Majesty, you could watch from the side and even give a few pointers? This should be able to more directly showcase our Magic Rune system and the rationale behind wandless spellcasting."

After speaking, he nervously watched Ian, not even daring to take a breath, afraid that this profound individual would find the suggestion too presumptuous or boring.

Ian pondered slightly upon hearing this. Observing a magic system's introductory teaching process indeed allows for the most direct understanding of its core ideas and fundamental principles, which sometimes can be more enlightening than directly watching advanced techniques. Moreover, passing the time while waiting for intelligence over three days is indeed necessary.

Looking at the old craftsman's nervous yet hopeful expression, Ian finally smiled and nodded: "Alright. Observing your introductory teaching sounds interesting."

The old craftsman was instantly overjoyed, almost moved to tears, thanking Ian repeatedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! Please have a seat; I'll prepare tea and the best seat for you right away!"

This is how status determines others' attitudes. If an ordinary person wanted to observe such things, the old craftsman would charge quite a bit.

But a legendary wizard is different. He hurriedly began to tidy up, as if preparing not for a mere observer but a crucial teaching evaluation.

Waiting while the little wizard arrived, Ian was not idle. He paced slowly around the old craftsman Caleb's shop, his gaze carefully scanning the finished and unfinished products displayed on the walls and shelves.

Caleb.

This was the name that the old craftsman respectfully informed him of earlier.

He was indeed an excellent Alchemy Master.

These Magic Rune artifacts came in various forms, crafted from materials ranging from wood, metal, to beast bones and gemstones. Ian could clearly sense the unique magic fluctuations contained in each item.

They were like silent poems, telling the unique rhythm of the African Magic Text System. Ian occasionally paused his steps, pointing to a particular piece, softly offering his opinion.

"This 'Storm Caller' short staff." Ian pointed to a dark wood staff with a sapphire set at the top, engraved with spiral runes, "The energy flow seems slightly sluggish at the connection between the third node and the seventh node's thundercloud rune. If a very small 'Tornado Guide Rune' can be embedded as a transition, it might increase instantaneous explosive power by at least fifteen percent and reduce the caster's own magic power backlash."

Caleb, hearing this, immediately moved forward, took out a magnifying glass to carefully observe the position Ian pointed at, and after a moment, suddenly slapped his thigh, his voice changed due to excitement: "My God! It really is so! This subtle sluggishness has troubled me for over ten years; I've always thought it was the limitation of the base material itself! Turns out, it just needs a simple transition rune! Your Majesty, you... you saw through the essence at a glance!"

Now.

The old craftsman no longer underestimated Ian.

All he had was the devout attitude of an apprentice—the deterrent force of a legendary wizard is just that great.

Ian then walked to a row of metal plates that looked like protective talismans, picking up one engraved with a guardian rune: "This 'Guardian of Endurance' rune's overall structure is perfect, but... the finishing 'Earth Foundation' talisman horn, if the stroke were slightly sturdier and held for an extra breath when injecting magic power, allowing the energy to settle and solidify better, its durability should be able to double."

Caleb hurriedly took the amulet, fingers trembling as he stroked the talisman horn, carefully perceiving for a moment, his eyes again exploding with shock and ecstasy: "Indeed! The energy settlement is indeed not perfect! I have always pursued the flow and aesthetics of the rune, yet overlooked the most basic settlement process! Thank you, Your Majesty, for the guidance! This is simply like touching stone into gold!"

Ian strolled around, casually pointing out five or six detail adjustments, each one hitting the mark, opening a new world for Caleb like never before. The old craftsman, flushed with excitement, had already developed a boundless respect for Ian, almost worshiping him as a deity.

He even proactively invited Ian to visit his "Gallery of Masterpieces."

The shop's back hall was a quiet room naturally formed by tree roots. Dozens of "Magic Rune Artifacts" hung on the walls, each exuding a unique magic fluctuation.

The old craftsman picked up an ebony short staff and respectfully handed it to Ian: "This is one of my proudest works, the 'Wind Speaker'."

Ian took it, examining it meticulously. The short staff was pitch-black throughout, with three sets of spiral runes engraved along its body, appearing upward, with a weathered lapis lazuli embedded at the end.

"This rune arrangement... is it 'Wind's Breath', 'Eye of the Eagle', 'Silence'?" Ian asked.

"Yes!" The old craftsman's eyes flashed with joy, "You actually recognized it at a glance?"

"The spacing between the runes is slightly large, causing magic power transmission to be impeded," Ian pointing at one set of spirals, "If the third line of 'Wind's Breath' is retracted inward by half a finger's width, the efficiency of magic power condensation can increase by thirty percent."